Boundaries with Strangers

Soooooo many dogs... including my dog August, don’t like to be touched by strangers and need to be advocated for in all situations so that they can do their best work. And although it will be tough for some folks to accept that they are not allowed to touch the dog, that’s just how it is. When a stranger wants to pet your dog, that act is for them, it makes THEM feel good... not the dog. Now for some super outgoing dogs that love strangers, there is no problem here, but for dogs who are uncomfortable with strangers like August, this is extremely unfair. So for anyone who struggles with saying ‘no’, please understand that you ALWAYS have the right to say ‘No’ to unwanted touching. You are not obligated to allow strangers to touch you, to touch your kids and you are also not obligated to allow them to touch your dog.
So to help me politely keep a dog’s adoring fans at arms length so that he can do his best work and also feel a lot more comfortable in his bubble, I will always advocate for the dog I am leading by saying NO.